31 Oct 2026
Twin share
£2,380pp
Single from £2,855
Escorted tour
Oman: Mountains, Deserts & Coast – 9 Days
Muscat, the coast, the Wahiba Sands, Jebel Akhdar, Jebel Shams and Nizwa by 4WD, in a group of up to 18.
9 days
From £2,325
Tour overview
This 9-day adventure explores Oman by 4WD, from the turquoise wadis and dhow yards of the coast to the dunes of the Wahiba Sands and the terraced villages of the Hajar Mountains. Groups have between 4 and 18 travellers aged 16 and over, with a tour leader throughout and three or four passengers in each 4WD. You stay eight nights: seven in hotels, from a beachfront hotel to mountain lodges and a hotel in Nizwa's old town, and one in a desert camp with ensuite rooms. Breakfast is included every day, with five lunches, including meals in a heritage house and with a women's cooperative, and two dinners.
Your adventure begins in Muscat, a walled city framed by mountains, with a tour of the Royal Opera House, the Bait Al Zubair Museum and the Mutrah waterfront and souk. The next day you visit the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, with one of the largest hand-loomed carpets in the world, then follow the coast to swim in the Bimmah Sinkhole and walk among the palms and pools of Wadi Tiwi before a night by Fins Beach.
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In Sur you visit the yards where traditional wooden dhows are still built, then swim in the turquoise pools of Wadi Bani Khalid before an exhilarating drive across the dunes of the Wahiba Sands to a desert camp, with sunset over the sands. After the market at Sinaw and the UNESCO-listed falaj irrigation at Birkat Al Mouz, you climb into the Jebel Akhdar, the Green Mountain, for a walk through terraced villages.
In Misfat Al Abriyeen you explore a stone village among date palms and enjoy lunch in a heritage house, then walk part of the Balcony Walk on Jebel Shams, Oman's highest mountain, above a canyon 1,000m deep. After lunch in a former village chief's house in Al Hamra, you spend two nights in Nizwa, the old capital, to see the Friday goat auction, the souk and the 17th-century fort. On the way back to Muscat you visit Jabreen Castle and share lunch with a women's sewing cooperative.
The physical rating is medium, with walks of up to two hours and some long drives. This trip suits travellers who want an active, varied introduction to Oman.
Trip highlights
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The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque (Day 2)
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Swimming in Wadi Bani Khalid (Day 3)
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A night in the Wahiba Sands (Day 3)
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Terraced villages of Jebel Akhdar (Day 4)
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The Balcony Walk on Jebel Shams (Day 6)
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Nizwa's Friday goat auction (Day 7)
Your route
12 stops from Muscat to Muscat
- Muscat Day 1
- Wadi Tiwi Day 2
- Sur Day 3
- Wadi Bani Khalid Day 3
- Wahiba Sands Day 3
- Birkat Al Mouz Day 4
- Jebel Akhdar Day 4
- Misfah al Abriyyin Day 5
- Jebel Shams Day 6
- Nizwa Days 6–7
- Jabreen Castle Day 8
- Muscat Days 8–9
Why choose this tour
Coast, desert and mountains by 4WD in nine days. Heritage-house lunches and a women's cooperative visit.
Best suited to
- Active travellers
- Culture and landscape lovers
- Solo travellers looking for a group
- First-time visitors to Oman
Day-by-day itinerary
9 days from Muscat, Oman to Muscat, Oman
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Day 1 · Royal Opera House, Mutrah Muscat
A tour of the capital.
- Hotel
- Hotel Royal Tulip or similar
-
Day 2 · Grand Mosque, Bimmah Sinkhole, Wadi Tiwi Fins Beach
A mosque, a sinkhole and a wadi.
- Hotel
- Tiwi Sunrise Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 3 · Sur, Wadi Bani Khalid, Wahiba Sands Wahiba Sands
Dhow yards, a wadi swim and the dunes.
- Hotel
- Sama Al Hareesh Desert Camp or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 4 · Sinaw, Birkat Al Mouz, Jebel Akhdar Jebel Akhdar
A market and a mountain village walk.
- Hotel
- Jabal Al Akhdar Grand Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 5 · Misfat Al Abriyeen Misfat Al Abriyeen
A stone village and a heritage lunch.
- Hotel
- The View or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 6 · Jebel Shams, Al Hamra, Nizwa Jebel Shams
The Balcony Walk, then Nizwa.
- Hotel
- Old Town Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
-
Day 7 · Nizwa Fort, Nizwa Souk Nizwa
Goat auction, souk and fort.
- Hotel
- Old Town Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 8 · Jabreen Castle, Sidab Muscat
A castle and a cooperative lunch.
- Hotel
- Hotel Royal Tulip or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
-
Day 9 · Muscat Trip ends
The trip ends after breakfast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Muscat (1 night) Hotel Royal Tulip or similar
- Fins Beach (1 night) Tiwi Sunrise Hotel or similar
- Wahiba Sands (1 night) Sama Al Hareesh Desert Camp or similar
- Jebel Akhdar (1 night) Jabal Al Akhdar Grand Hotel or similar
- Hajar Mountains (1 night) The View or similar
- Nizwa (2 nights) Old Town Hotel or similar
- Muscat (1 night) Hotel Royal Tulip or similar
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 7 nights in hotels and 1 in a desert camp
- Meals 8 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 3 dinners
- Private 4WD vehicles and airport transfers on tour dates
- Muscat city tour and the Grand Mosque
- Swims at Bimmah Sinkhole and Wadi Bani Khalid
- Jebel Akhdar and Jebel Shams walks
- Nizwa Fort, Jabreen Castle and the goat auction
- Tour leader throughout
Not included
- Flights
- Meals not included 3 lunches and 5 dinners
- Optional dhow cruise
- Tips, travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want luxury
- You dislike long drives
- You want most meals included
- You want flights included — they are not
Good to know
Meals by day
Breakfast: Days 2–9 · Lunch: Days 2, 5–6 and 8 · Dinner: Days 2–3 and 5
FCDO advice
UK FCDO travel advice for Oman
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £2,325 per person, twin share, tour only. 16 upcoming departures.
16 Jan 2027
Twin share
£2,345pp
Single from £2,850
30 Jan 2027
Twin share
£2,345pp
Single from £2,850
10 Apr 2027
Twin share
£2,345pp
Single from £2,850
24 Apr 2027
Twin share
£2,345pp
Single from £2,850
08 May 2027
Twin share
£2,325pp
Single from £2,830
04 Sep 2027
Twin share
£2,325pp
Single from £2,830
18 Sep 2027
Twin share
£2,325pp
Single from £2,830
25 Sep 2027
Twin share
£2,325pp
Single from £2,830
09 Oct 2027
Twin share
£2,345pp
Single from £2,850
16 Oct 2027
Twin share
£2,325pp
Single from £2,830
30 Oct 2027
Twin share
£2,345pp
Single from £2,850
06 Nov 2027
Twin share
£2,345pp
Single from £2,850
13 Nov 2027
Twin share
£2,345pp
Single from £2,850
04 Dec 2027
Twin share
£2,325pp
Single from £2,830
18 Dec 2027
Twin share
£2,385pp
Single from £2,890
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
What is the desert camp like?
A fixed camp with ensuite rooms and an outdoor communal area for meals.
Can we swim?
Yes, at Bimmah Sinkhole and Wadi Bani Khalid. A one-piece swimsuit or T-shirt and shorts is recommended.
How much walking is there?
Village and mountain walks of up to two hours on uneven paths and steps.
Do I need a visa?
UK visitors can usually enter Oman visa-free for short stays. Check the latest advice before travel.
How do we travel?
In private 4WDs with three or four passengers each, plus minibuses in Muscat.
How many people travel together?
Between 4 and 18 travellers, with a tour leader.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
ATOL protected
100% financially protected in a Trust bank account
PTS 6035
4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary